Dr. John Dailey Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud

A former Washington podiatrist has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges.

The U.S. attorney’s office reported Friday that Dr. John M. Dailey entered guilty pleas to three counts of making false statements to the Medicare program about services he did not actually provide to three patients.

According to court documents, during 2008-09, Dr. Dailey requested money from the Medicare program for office visits that he did not actually provide because he was on vacation and outside of the state on the dates of the services, including trips to Las Vegas, Nev., and Hawaii. In his plea agreement, Dr. Dailey admitted that he held and abused a position of trust as a Medicare provider and licensed podiatrist when committing these crimes.

Dailey, 55, who lives in West St. Louis County, entered the guilty pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Henry Autrey.

Judge Autrey set a Jan. 7, 2013, sentencing date in the case.

Each felony count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines of up to $250,000. The judge is required to consider U.S. sentencing guidelines which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The initial grand jury indictment against Dailey, issued in July, included two felony counts of using a false Social Security number on two different credit card applications in November 2008 and April 2010.

Those two counts are being held in abeyance pending sentencing, and likely will be dismissed, a federal official told The Missourian.